President's talks in Davos focus on global economic relations and geopolitical issues
Davos, 22.01.2026 — On the margins of the 2026 WEF Annual Meeting, President Guy Parmelin met with more than a dozen heads of state and government for extended bilateral talks. This year, there was a particular focus on issues relating to global trade and Switzerland's bilateral trade relations.
European policy issues, the economy and the security of the continent were the focus of talks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. President Parmelin also met with Bart de Wever, Dick Schoof and Luc Frieden, the heads of government of the EU states of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. A meeting with British Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle was aimed at further developing trade relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
At a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the two presidents discussed bilateral relations and Switzerland's support for Ukraine. On Monday, Mr Parmelin opened a meeting of national security advisers. He also held a lengthy discussion with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
During talks with President Donald Trump, which were also attended by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, the trade balance was a key topic of conversation. According to the latest available figures, this shows a surplus in favour of the US. A separate meeting took place with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Economic cooperation, issues of multilateralism and the situation in Venezuela were on the agenda at meetings with the presidents of Argentina and Panama, Javier Milei and José Raúl Mulino Quintero.
The current situation in the Middle East was the focus of discussions with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. Trade relations were the focus of discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and representatives of the governments of Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. At an earlier meeting on Monday, Mr Parmelin discussed the reform efforts of the UN and International Geneva with Annalena Baerbock, president of the UN General Assembly.
Further meetings that took place on the margins of the WEF gathering included ministerial meetings on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues.